Collect site data for ATMs

Note:

Before starting this tutorial, it's expected you complete the previous tutorial, Set up data to expand an ATM network.

ArcGIS Business Analyst Mobile App is a companion app to Business Analyst Web App. It enables field workers to collect information about sites from their phones or mobile devices. The data they collect can be accessed in the web app to perform analysis, create infographics, or perform any other Business Analyst function.

In this tutorial, you'll use the mobile app to collect data about candidate ATM locations to help a bank expand its ATM network. First, you'll share the Business Analyst project you want to collect data for. Then, you'll access the project in the mobile app, verify and update information in the field, take photos of ATM locations, and collect additional data. Lastly, you'll review your changes in the web app.

This tutorial was last tested on August 20, 2024.

Requirements

• ArcGIS organizational account with a Publisher, Facilitator, or Administrator role (see options for software access)
• ArcGIS Business Analyst Mobile App
• ArcGIS Business Analyst Web App
• A smartphone or tablet with iOS or Android

Access the project

In Business Analyst Mobile App, you can access all your projects from Business Analyst Web App, as well as any projects shared with you. In the previous tutorial, Set up data to expand an ATM network, you created the ATM Locations project with custom site attributes for ATM locations. To ensure field workers can access the project, you'll share it with your organization. Then, you'll access and review the project in the mobile app.

Share the project

First, you'll open your ATM Locations project in Business Analyst Web App and share it so members of your organization can access it using the mobile app.

Note:

Because you created the project, it's not necessary to share it to access it in the mobile app. However, sharing is necessary if you want others to be able to access a project you created.

1. Go to Business Analyst Web App.
2. If you are not signed in, click Sign In. Sign in with your ArcGIS organizational account.

   Note:

   If you don't have an organizational account, see options for software access.

   Your account must be licensed to use Business Analyst Web App. If you are the administrator of your organization, you can assign yourself a license. Otherwise, you'll need to contact your administrator for permission.

3. If necessary, close any What's new window.
4. If necessary, on the ribbon, click Home. Under Recently Created, for the ATM Locations project, click the Share the project with other users button.

   Note:

   If you have not created an ATM Locations project, you can create it by completing the tutorial Set up data to expand an ATM network. This workflow can be completed with a different project, but the attributes you update later in the tutorial will be different.

   

   Tip:

   If your ATM Locations project is not listed under Recently Created, click Show all projects to locate it.

   The Share project window appears. You can share the project with your entire organization, or choose a list of specific users from your organization to share it with. The latter option is useful if you only wanted specific field workers to be able to access the project. For this workflow, you'll share the project with the entire organization.

5. Confirm that Add entire organization is selected.

   

   Note:

   Your organization's name will differ from the organization in the example image.

6. Click Apply.

   Note:

   If you receive a message informing you that some members of your organization couldn't be added, click OK. It's likely those users don't have accounts licensed for Business Analyst. If you need to share your project with someone who isn't licensed, contact your organization's administrator to have the license assigned.

   The project is shared. Now, anyone in your organization can access it with Business Analyst Web App or Business Analyst Mobile App. An icon appears on the project card, indicating it is shared.

   

Sign in to the mobile app

Next, you'll launch Business Analyst Mobile App. Then, you'll sign in using your ArcGIS account.

1. On your mobile device, open Business Analyst Mobile App.

   Note:

   If you don't have Business Analyst Mobile App installed on your mobile device, you can download and install it from the App Store (if you're using an iOS device) or Google Play (if you're using an Android device). Once installed, the app is listed in your apps as ArcGIS BA.

2. If prompted to allow ArcGIS BA to use your location, choose Allow While Using App.
3. Click Sign in to ArcGIS Online.

   

   Note:

   The example images show the iOS version of the mobile app. If you're using the Android version, or if you're using a device with a different screen size, you may encounter differences.

4. Sign in using the same ArcGIS account you used when sharing the ATM Locations project.

   If this is your first time using the mobile app, information about the app may appear.

5. If necessary, click Get Started.

   A map view opens. If this is your first time using the mobile app, information about the map options may appear.

6. If necessary, close the messages about the map options.

   The map marks your current location with a blue circle. In the example image, the location is Esri headquarters in Redlands, California. Your location will differ.

   

   The screen also shows the address of your current location. It's possible to create a site for this location by clicking Create Site, but you won't do that in this tutorial. Instead, you'll work with the sites in the ATM Locations project.

Review the project

Next, you'll browse the contents of the ATM Locations project. The project contains proposed locations for new ATMs, divided into two groups: existing ATM sites the bank is considering acquiring, and new ATM sites the bank would have to build. The bank's preference is to develop new sites, so you'll visit those proposed locations first.

First, you'll ensure you have the ATM Locations project open.

1. Above the map, click the Menu Options button.

   

2. Click Projects.

   Information about the current project is displayed. The current project will be the same as the last project you accessed in either the web app or the mobile app. It's possible the ATM Locations project is already the current project.

3. Under Current Project, click the name of the current project.

   

   A list of all projects available to you appears. The projects are sorted by projects you created (My Projects) and projects others have shared with you (Shared With Me).

4. In the list of projects, click ATM Locations.

   If it wasn't already, your ATM Locations project is set as the current project. You return to the Projects screen.

   From this screen, you can also access data associated with the project, including its point locations. You'll review this information.

5. Click Point Locations (6 sites).

   

   The project's point location layers, New ATM locations and Existing ATM locations, are displayed. The most recently used layer is highlighted and expanded to show the sites it contains. Assuming you haven't changed anything about the project since creating it, the highlighted layer is Existing ATM locations.

   The bank wants to focus on new locations rather than existing ones, so you'll review the new locations layer.

6. Click New ATM locations.

   The layer is expanded.

   

   The layer contains three locations. You'll navigate to the first location.

7. Click Proposed new location 1.

   The map navigates to the site. In the mobile app, only one site is loaded on the map at a time, indicated by the large circle. The locations of all sites are visible and indicated by pin symbols.

   

   In total, there are six pin symbols. Three are new ATM locations and three are existing ATM locations, but it's not possible at a glance to tell them apart. Because you first want to visit the new ATM locations, you'll change layer visibility so only those sites appear on the map.

8. Above the map, click the Map Options button.

   

9. Click Map Contents.

   A list of map layers appears.

10. Uncheck Existing ATM locations.

    

    The layer is turned off on the map, hiding it.

11. Click the Collapse button.

    

    You return to the map view, with only the sites from the New ATM locations layer still visible on the map.

You've shared your project and accessed it in Business Analyst Mobile App. You're ready to update details for the sites based on information from the field.

Update site details

In Business Analyst Mobile App, you are viewing three proposed new ATM locations. These locations have attribute information associated with them, including the number of parking spots and their visibility from the street. Using the mobile app, field workers can visit these locations and update the attribute information to better represent the reality on the ground.

Next, you'll simulate the process of investigating a location and updating it with the mobile app. While you won't travel to the locations, you can still make changes. You'll add a photo, update attributes, and review your changes in the web app.

Add a photo

The bank would like to know what the proposed sites look like before making a decision on where to expand its ATM network. Using your mobile device, you'll take a photo and attach it to a proposed location.

1. At the bottom of the screen, under Proposed new location 1, click Details.

   

   The Location Details screen appears. It lists the attribute information associated with the proposed new location. A message at the top of the screen says that there are no photos for this site.

2. Next to Location Details, click the Camera button.

   

   A menu appears.

3. Click Take Photo. If prompted to allow ArcGIS BA to access your camera, allow it.

   A camera app launches.

   In a real-world scenario, you would want a field worker to take a photo of the proposed ATM location. For this tutorial, you probably can't travel to the location, so any photo will work.

4. Take a photo. When satisfied with the photo, click Use Photo.

   The photo is uploaded and added to the proposed new location's data. It appears at the top of the Location Details screen.

   Tip:

   It's possible to click the Camera button again and take additional photos if needed. You can also upload photos already taken on your device, such as 360-degree photos that show the entire site and its surroundings. Business Analyst Mobile App does not support taking 360-panoramic photos from within the app, but it does support adding them from your device. If a site has multiple photos, you can view them all by clicking the Gallery button in the lower right corner of the image on the Location Details screen.

Update attributes

Now that you've taken a photo of the site, you'll review its attribute details and update them as necessary. Assume that, as a field worker on site, you've noticed information that is missing or incorrect in the attribute details. Using a mobile device, you'll change the details to reflect the reality on the ground, starting with information about the number of parking spots.

1. Under Details, click Parking Spots and update the value to 20.

   

2. Click Parking Spots (Dedicated) and update the value to 1.

   You also decide that information about the site's visibility from the street is incorrect. Visibility is currently listed as acceptable, but you think visibility is better than that.

3. Click Visibility from Street. Select Excellent and click Submit.
4. At the bottom of the Details section, click More.

   

   The rest of the attributes appear. Next, you'll change the distance from the street, which is currently set at 50 feet. You notice that the actual distance is much shorter.

5. Click Distance from Street (ft), delete the existing value, and update the value to 25.

   You won't change the final attribute, Shortlisted, as it indicates whether the bank has shortlisted the site for consideration, which has not changed yet.

   Lastly, you'll add a note that explains when and by whom these updates were made.

6. Under Notes, click Add Note.

   

   The Add Note screen appears.

7. Type the following note text:

   Update by [your name or initials] during site visit on [today's date].

   

8. Click Save.

   The note is saved and added to the Location Details screen.

   

   You've finished making your updates.

9. At the top of the screen, click the Collapse button.

   You return to the map view.

   This process can be repeated for the other proposed new ATM locations. You only need to click a site on the map to select it and click Details to access its Location Details screen. For this tutorial, you won't update any more proposed new ATM locations.

Take a measurement

Next, you'll update the site attribute information for one of the existing ATM locations. The new and existing ATM locations layers have many of the same attributes, but existing locations have additional attributes for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance and door width. You'll use your mobile device to measure the door, making it easier to fill in this information.

First, you'll turn on the existing ATM locations again.

1. Above the map, click the Map Options button. Click Map Contents.
2. Under Map Layers, click Existing ATM locations to turn it on and click New ATM locations to turn it off.

   

3. Click the Collapse button.

   Now, only existing ATM locations appear on the map.

4. On the map, click the pin symbol for the westmost existing location.

   

   This pin is Existing location 1. You'll update its attributes.

5. Under Existing location 1, click Details.

   The Location Details screen appears. This location has some details already filled in, but you'll update others. For instance, once you arrive on the site's location, you find that the site has two dedicated parking spots.

6. Click Parking Spots (Dedicated) and enter a value of 2.

   Next, you'll take a photo of the door leading to the ATM with a measurement of its width. Instead of using the ArcGIS BA camera, you'll use a measurement app on your device, then upload the picture you take with it.

7. Without closing or signing out of ArcGIS BA, open a measurement app on your mobile device.

   Note:

   If you're using an iOS device, such as an iPhone, you likely have a measurement app installed on your device by default. You can typically access it by opening the Utilities folder on your device and clicking Measure. If you're using an Android device, you may need to download an independent app from Google Play. If you don't have a measurement app and don't want to download one, you can complete the following steps with any camera app, but you won't be able to perform a measurement.

8. Using your measurement app, measure the width of a door near you. Take a photo annotated with the measurement.

   

   Note:

   The example image was taken using the iOS Measure app. If you're using another app, your results may look different.

   In the example image, the door is 34 inches wide, which is wider than the 28 inches listed in the attributes. Doors must have a minimum width of 32 inches to be ADA compliant, so this door is compliant. You'll upload the photo and update the attributes accordingly.

9. In ArcGIS BA, next to Location Details, click the Camera button and choose Photo Library.

   

   Here, you can access all photos saved on your device and upload one as an attachment to the site.

10. In the photo gallery, select the photo of the door you took and click Add.

    The photo with the measurement is attached to the site.

11. Under Details, click More. Update Door Width (inches) to 34 (or the value you measured).
12. If the door width is 32 inches or more, change ADA Compliant to Yes.

    

13. Click the Collapse button.

    You've used Business Analyst Mobile App to take photos and update site information. You also used your device's measurement app to assist with the changes.

Review the updates

Lastly, you'll open the project in Business Analyst Web App and review the changes you made on your mobile device.

1. If necessary, go to Business Analyst Web App and sign in.
2. On the Home page, under Recently Created, point to your ATM Locations project and click Open project.
3. In the project pane, click the Refresh project button.

   

   If they weren't already, any changes made in the mobile app are now available in the web app. To confirm, you'll review the changes you made to Existing location 1.

4. Expand Existing ATM locations. For Existing location 1, click the options button and choose Show details.

   

   The location's details include the image you took.

   

5. Under the list of attributes, click More.

   The ADA Compliant and Door Width (inches) fields are updated too.

   

In this tutorial, you used Business Analyst Mobile App to update information about ATM sites in the field. You took photos, made changes to attributes, and used other apps on your device to take measurements. Then, you confirmed the updates are accessible in Business Analyst Web App.

Using both the mobile and web app, you can collect information about sites and use it for analysis, infographics, or decision-making. The workflow in this tutorial can be conducted for any type of site in Business Analyst, not just those related to ATMs. For instance, it could be used for potential business locations.

For an overview of the functionality available in Business Analyst Mobile App, including some uses not explored in this tutorial, see the blog Leverage the unique capabilities of BA Mobile App.

You can find more tutorials in the tutorial gallery.

Acknowledgements

• World Streets Map: Esri, HERE, Garmin, USGS, Intermap, INCREMENT P, NRCAN, Esri Japan, METI, Esri China (Hong Kong), NOSTRA, OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS User Community